Nicodemus NHS

Located in northwest Kansas, the town of Nicodemus is a National Historic Site that commemorates the African American experience during westward expansion. Founded in 1877 by a group of formerly enslaved African Americans, Nicodemus was one of several all-Black towns that were established in the Great Plains during the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. These communities offered African Americans a chance to experience freedom and self-sufficiency away from the Jim Crow laws and racial violence of the South. Today, Nicodemus is the only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi River, and it continues to celebrate its rich history and culture. Visitors can tour the town's historic buildings, learn about its unique role in American history, and enjoy the warm hospitality of its residents.